Rack for drying ovens



Nov. 20,4928. 1,692,294

- J. D. ELDER RACK FOR DRYING OVENS Filed April 27. 1926 INVENTOR WWW -ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. "20,

; z QFFICE- I men n. ELDEIQ-OF nocK vr LE cnivrnit, new vomr,v assrenon,ny ivrnsnn ASSIGEL MENTS, rro CROWN coRKa'snnL COMPANY, ENG, or nnwroan, n. -Y., ,Ai Conro RATION NEV nAcK FQE- nnYIneovsns;

' Application filed April 27, 1926 gSel'ial No. 104,954.

My invention relates to racks for dryingv ovens, and more particularlytov racks of a; type in which the article'carriers are adapted toreceive flat objects such as decorated metal sheets possessing little orno flfiXlblllty, or other more flexible sheets, which earners aresupportednpon endless sprocket chains by Vmeans of which the sheets: aresupported andt -ans ted throughtheoven structure more,'thus requiringchains of considerable length and the carrying by these chains of aconsiderable aggregate load. It'has been the practice to mount thecarriers in relation tort-he chain structure'bymeans ot studs rivcted'toside plates-oi the linksof the chain, and this practice has not onlydeveloped difficulties in assembling the carriers with relation to thechains, but from dis in displacement thereof 'to an extent to interfereivith the mechanical feeding of the tin or-other sheets uponthecarr1ers.

l-Vhen such breakageor displacement occurs it is not only followedbylosses due to a shutting downof the Whole, oven, but these lossesare-very much aggravated because of the diiiiculties cit effectingrepairs which SOl'llGtil'l'lGS requirethe takin}: down of the entirerac; structure. and the separation. and replacement of hnks n the chainsprepara-,

tory to the reassemblingof the rackstructure the oven. V

lVith the above conditions in mind, I have provided a rackstructureinwhich the car riers vvilibe so n iounted ion-relation to thesprocket chain structure as to not only afford the'bre'aking strainsthereon from the car rie rs and the loads thereon;

The means used formounting the carriers in relation the chains, insteadof eaken ing; the chain structure, will'serve asa very substantialreinforcement to this structure,

thus assistingthe chain proper in "affording the(IlGSlTQClSllbSttlIllllEtl support to thecar riers. "Furthermore thelegs of jeachcarrier bycnieans of which it is connected- With 'opp'ostel-y. arranged parallel chains, are atforded long bearings inmembers'incapabldf if loosened, of rotary movement With rela-i tion tothe chain proper,-said members having dimensions 'suflic ently large topermit the setting of the carriers at any desired angle; I

In a rack structure embodying my 'invention the carriers and supportsvtherefor'may be quickly assembled in, or disassembled from, the chainsof the rack structure, so

that in the event of the breakage of a car'- rier it may be readilyremoved from the ma chine and replaced, WlthOllll taking down the chainstructure itself, thus permitting repair's when necessary to berapidlyinade.

.In a'rack structure embodying invention, the plates of the chainare'relieved of all direct loads from the carrier, this lead i beingsustained by'the'pivot pins of the chain structure and beingdistributedbetwe'en the ad acent pins so as to avoid a concen} trationof the load, particularly when the carriers are in a substantiallyhorizontal position and are having thereto. c p

The invention consists primarily in a rack for drying ovens embodyingtherein parallel sprocket chains having laterally extending pivot pins,blocks 'havingfopenings therethe sheets delivered through adapted toreceive said pivot pins vhereby said blocks may lbe'jpivotally mountedupon said spins, means holding said blocks against displacement With'rela-' tion to said pins, saidbloekshaving openings therein intermediatethe portions thereof enig aging sald pivot pins, a carrier having legsentering said openings,-

means passing throughthe Walls of said blocks respectively amend legsfor securing said legs" in relaticn to said blocks and in such othernovel:

features of construction and combination of 7 parts as are hereinafterset forth and' olescribed, and more particularly pointed, out

in theclaims hereto appended. Referring to the drawings, is

With a fragmentar portion a tare v Fig. 2 is a condensed end View of therack structure;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the chains upon a still larger scale;

F t is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 3; and r Fig. 5 is aview of a modified form of the invention adapting it for use with sheetsof flexible material. I j

Like letters refer. to like parts throughout the several views.

. In the embodiment of the'inveution shown in F 1g. 1. it indicates apart of the drying 'oven structure, B a part o1 the rack strucing a Wideentrance between adjacent car riers for the reception of sheetsdelivered to the carrier iirom the mechanism C, or the delivery-o1" suchsheets from the carrier.

The carriers proper are indicated'at E and the chains at F.

j The construction and arrangement oi? parts 7 above referred to, is oldand well known in this art it having been the practice to secure thelegs of the carriers E to the chains F by meansot studs riveted orotherwise secured to the side plates of said chains. v

its stated above, this, construction has proven a source of greatdifficulty and ex pense in the operation of such ovens due in part tothe loosening of such, studs in part to their breakage, and largelytot-he dii'liculties of replacing or repairingsuch studs and the lossesresulting from thenecessary shutting down of the oven while these re-.pairs, however slight, are being ailected.

The accidental separation of any carrier IE will also interfere with theautomatic feeding of sheets to the rack, although because of the lossesresulting from the shutting down and cooling of an oven to permit themaking of repairs it is not uncommon to operate the ovens with a carrieror car; riers missing.

My present invention relates more particularly to those features of theconstruction oi the rack structure which will avoid those diilicultiesresulting from the frequent disconnection of carriers from the chainstructure, andaflford a rein'torcementto the whole rack structure in amanner to permit a more reliable handling of the sheets. Theconstructionof the chains F is of an oldand well known form except as tothe pivot pins 41 thereof, which extend beyond the side plates of themachine for a considquickly erable distance as clearly shown in Fig. 3oi the drawings. Loosely mounted upon these pivots a are inner blocks 1and outer blocks at thesame time, adds greatly to the strength of thechain structure since these blocks will take u 3 a' Dart of the loadresultin froin the run 01? the chains, thus permitting the use" ot' afairly tight chain. v i

The blocks 0, those mounted adjacent the outer end of the pivot a, serveto confine the blocks bytheblocks mounted adjacent the side of thechains being; secured in position upon the pivot pins (6 by a quicklyreleasable z-zecuring; means as the split cotterpins e, which not. onlyhave the advantage of being removed and positioned with rela{ tion tothe pivot pinsca but also of not being subject to becoming loosened as aresult of vibrations in and about the chains.

The dimensions of the various blocks 6 and a, and the manner of mountingthem upon adjacent pivot pins a, ai'l'ords ample space between adjacentpins a for the legs otthe carriers E, Without interfering with any partof the chain structure. This portion of the blocks Z) and 0 has anopening therein indicated at g, which preferably passes entirely throughthe block. and n'lay extend at anincliue shovn, or directly verticallyif desired, thus aiiiordmg a beari for the loo f of the carrierextending for the tull deu h of the blocks. The legs oi? the carrier aresecured in position by any desired quickly releasable means as the splitcotter pins /a passing through openings in the blocks and i'n 'saidlegs. I necessity for a special shouldered formation of the legs I, andpermits the full springiness of the legs to be utilized in mounting thecarriers upon the blocks 5 or c of the chain structure.

This manner of mounting; the carriers also affords great strength in thesupports for the carriers in the direction ot the length ofthe chain F,which condition highly desirable since variation in theload as eachcarrier is taking the curvefrom one reach ofthe chain to the OPPQSlL'BIGLCll, subjects the supports for the carriers to great stresses at'thispoint, particularly when large sheets of tin are beingfdelivered to, orremoved from, the rack.

The construction and arrangement of the blocks 5 and c is such that theymay be This construction avoids any luu quickly and accuratelymanufactured in large'quantities, it beingpossible to drill'a largenumber of blocks at the. same time, to form the openings to receive thepivot pins a andcottor pins h. i ,1 V

Inthe form ot'the invention shown in Figs. l to 4, the blocks Z) and 0maybe assembled in the chain structure F before the chain is mounted inthe oven structure, and the carriers E thereafter connected-with theblocks band 0. If desired, however, the chain F with its elongated pivotpins a may be first assembled in the' structure and the blocks 72 or cthen mounted upon said pins (1,

the carriers E then being secured to said blocks by means of the cottorpins h. In elthercase the legs 7 of the carriers may be sprung towards'each otherin amanner to facilitate the mounting of said carriers uponsaid blocks, or ifdesired the blocks may be first secured to the legs ofthe carriers E and the blocks mounted upon the pivot pins a of the chainafter this chain has been assembled in the oven, the cotter pins '6being inserted through the openings toward the end of the pivot pins aafter the mount ingfofthe blocks upon said pivots, the legs being sprungtowardseachother with the blocks attached theretowhen so mountingthe'blocks; 51 p In case of the breakage of a carrier IE, it is merelynecessary to remove the cotterpin h, remove the legsf from the openings9 and mount another carrier within these blocks without removing theblocks from the chain, or the chain from the oven. Since the legs 7"have merely a close sliding fit within the opening 9 such repairs may bequickly effected withoutthe use of any tool excepting that necessary tospread the ends of thecotter-pin.

The blocks b and 0 preferably all have the same shape so as to avoid thenecessity for the construction of rightand'left blocks, as

well as to permit the production of these blocks from bar stock withoutrequiring finishing thereof beyond the drillingxofthe necessaryopeningsg for'the legs f and the openings for the cotter pins h.

In making repairs, the springiness of the carriers E will permit thelegs to be brought to the proper position to pass freely into "theopenings 9, the outward spring of these legs assisting ininaintainingthe blocks 1) and 0 in the proper relation to each otherand. to the chain proper F. This is secured by extending the pivot pinsainwardly of the rack structure as shown more particularly in Fig. 2'.

It will be noted that the blocqs 0 serve as spacers in relation to theblocks 6, and that the alternated inner and outer blocks form acontinuous link structure in connection with the pivot pins (1 whichwill assist very materially chain.

In the embodiment of theinvention shown described, said arms havingriveted or other- .wise secured thereto, a pan having per-- 'forationsthrough the bottom thereof to permit a more or less free circulation ofthe heated air about a sheet possessing insufficient rigidity to support1ts own weight upon an open carrier structure of the type shown in Fig.2.

By the construction herein desoribed,- -I- secure increased strengtl'rinthe entire moving rack structure, minimize likelihood of disarrangementoithe carrier supports with relation to the chain structure proper,afford a much steadier support for the carriers E,

and permit the quick and convenient installation, removal andreplacement of said car- .iers E when necessary.

When using the wire carrierstructure, it

is preferable to have onele'g oi the carrier c'o-operate with a block 7)upon one cha n and a block 0 upon, the'other chain, and to in preventingstretch of the F have the adjacent carrier engage a block 0 upon thefirst mentionedchain and aublock F) upon the'other-chain, thus securingthat desired slightly staggered relation of adja-:;

cent carriers, while permitting all carriers to be of thesamedimensions. a

It is not my'intention-to limit the inven tion to the precise details ofconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, al-,

though thisiconstruction hasbeen i'oundto give very satisfactory resultsin use, to be extremely durable, and no tto be aliected by the heatconditions in'the oven, r v V Having described the invention, what .I

claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent,ris: a j v Ii '1. A 'rack' for drying ovens embodying therein .parallel' sprocketchains having laterally extending pivot pins, blockshaving openingstherethrough adapted to receive said pivot pins whereby said blocks maybe pivotally mounted upon said pinsymeans holding said, blocksagainstdisplacement with relation to said pins, said blocks having openingstherein intermediateythe portions thereof engaging said pivot pins, acarrier having legs entering said openings, and

means passing through the walls of said blocks respectively and saidlegs for securing said legs in relation to said blocks.

2. A rack for drying ovens embodying therein parallel sprocket chains,having pivot pins extended laterally from the side plates at one side ofthe chain, blocks having openings therethrough adapted to receivesaidpivot pins whereby said blocks may be 'pivotally mounted upon saidpivot pins,

' legs in'relation to saidblocks.

A rack for drying ovens embodying therein parallel sprocket chains,having pivot pins extended laterally from the side plates atone sideofthe chain, blocks having openings therethrough adapted to receive saidpivot pins whereby said blocks may be pivotally mounted upon said pivotpins, said bloc-ks being alternately positioned adjacentthe side platesof the chain and adjacent the ends of the pins, quick releasable meanscooperating with the block positioned adjacent the end of the pivot pinsand with the pivotpins respectively holding said blocks againstdisplacement in relation to said pins, said blocks having openingstherein intermediate the portions thereof engaging said pivot pins,carriers having legs entering openings in oppositely arranged blocks,and means passing through thewalls of said blocks respectively and saidlegs for securing said legs in relation to said blocks. 7

i, A rack for drying ovens embodying therein parallel sprocket chains,having pivot pins extended laterally from the side pla at one side ofthe chain, blocks having openings therethrougl'i adapted to receive saidpivot pins whereby said blocks may be pivotally mounted upon said pivotpins, said blocks being alternately positioned adjacent the side platesof the chain and adjacent the ends of the pins, means co-operating withthe block positioned adjacent the end of the pivot pins and with thepivot pins respectively holding said blocks against displacement inrelation to said pins, said blockshaving openings therein intermediatethe portions thereof engaging said pivot pins, bent wire carriers havinglegs entering openings in oppositely arranged blocks, the side Walls ofsaid blocks and said legs having openings therethrough, and quickreleasable means passing through said openings and engaging said blocksand said legs for securing said carriers in relation to said blocks;

5. A rack for drying ovens embodying therein parallel sprocket chains,having pivot pins extended laterally from the side plates at one side ofthe chain, blocks having openings therethrough adapted to receive saidpivot pins Whereby said blocks may be pivotally mounted upon said pivotpins, said blocks being of the same dimensions, configuration ai lconstruction, and being alternately positioned adjacent the side platesof the chain and adjacent the ends of the pins, means eo-operatingvitlrthe block positioned adjacent the end of the pivot pins and withthe pivot pins respectively holding said blocks against dis ceinei'nlwin relation to said pins, said block having openings thereinintermediate the portions thereof engaging said pivot pins, iarriershaving legs entering openings in. oppositely arranged blocks, and meanspassing through the Walls of said blocks respectively and said legs forsecuring said legs in relation to said blocks.

6. A rack for drying ovens embodying therein parallel sprocket chains,having pivot pins extended laterally; at one side of the chain, saidblocks being of the same dimers sions, configuration and construction,and being alternately positioned adjacent the side plates of the chainand adjacent the ends of the pins,-whereby the blocks adjacent thechains act as spacers with relation to the blocks adjacent the endsof'the pins, said pivot pins having openings toward the ends thereof andclosely adjacent the outer face of the blocks positioned towards theends of the pins, cotter pins adapted to pass through said openings inengaging relation With said last named blocks, said blocks each havingan opening passing therethrough, at an abrupt angle to the axes ofsaidpivot pins, and an opening therethrough communicating With said lastnamed openings, bentwire carriers having legs passing through theopenings in oppositely arr, nged blocks, and also having openingspassing through said legs, and cotter pins adapted to pass. through saidopenings in said blocks and through said openings in said legs. 7

In Witness whereof I have hereunto ailixed my signature, this 23d day ofApril, 1926.

JOHN D. ELDER.

